ROBERTO MARTINEZ is set to become the new manager of Everton after chairman Bill Kenwright chose the Spaniard to lead the club forward.

A compensation package in the region of £1.5million was agreed between Kenwright and Wigan owner Dave Whelan yesterday for Martinez, who will now discuss personal terms on his switch to Goodison Park.

“Bill Kenwright and myself have agreed a deal,” said Whelan.

As revealed by the Daily Express, Martinez, 39, has been the frontrunner to replace David Moyes, who is succeeding Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, and was interviewed last week.

Kenwright considered several candidates, including former Schalke coach Ralf Rangnick and receiving inquiries about the vacancy from a host of current Premier League managers.

But Everton have been keen to appoint a manager rather than a coach with Premier League experience as they look to continue the work Moyes and Kenwright have done together in rebuilding the club.

Martinez lifted the FA Cup with Wigan last season but, just three days after that historic Wembley success, they were relegated to the Championship.

Bill Kenwright has settled on Roberto Martinez as the man to take Everton forward

Bill Kenwright and myself have agreed a deal

Wigan chairman Dave Whelan

He informed Whelan 10 days ago that he wanted to leave the DW Stadium after four years at the helm and would seek a fresh start.

A final round of talks with Kenwright will now include which members of his backroom staff Martinez wants to bring with him from Wigan – with assistant Graeme Jones, goalkeeping coach Inaki Bergara, chief scout Kevin Reeves and fitness coach Richard Evans all having been tipped to make the move.

Everton will hope a role can be found in the set-up for former players Phil Neville, Alan Stubbs and David Weir, who were all internal candidates to succeed Moyes.

Whelan has drawn up a shortlist to replace Martinez that features Brighton’s Gus Poyet, ex-Bolton boss Owen Coyle and Manchester United assistant Rene Meulensteen.

Poyet could soon be available after he and his assistants, Mauricio Taricco and Charlie Oatway, were all suspended by Brighton last month due to a dispute with the owners. A resolution is expected this week.